Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-23
SYMBOLS OF FATE:
Reading the Future in the Geometric
Lines of Tea Grounds.
"One-two-three."

"One-two-three."
''What does that mean?''
'f on must hold the teacup aloft and
twlrl it three times around to bring the
tea grounds into a fortune telling
shape"
"Oh. it is case of well shaken be-
fore taken.
Yes, fortune that only covered the
bottom of the teacup would be a very
uninterestlng one.''
This" said the slbyl, describing
circle in the bottom of the cup, ''iS the
rOurse of true love and it runs smooth;
this triangle OF black specks is wish.
This black square is letter; this flock
of birds means good news. Here are
money and a surprise -
"What is that thing in the side of
the cupY''
THAT is an anchor of tea leaves; il
Is the symbol OF hope
Here Is a visitor in my cup" cries
one.
''Blte it; If it is hard 1t is a man. If
II Is soft 1t is lady,
The long tea JOINT is fished oIt and
proves to be soft, so the guest Will be a
lady. The gifted member of a company
who can read the teacups finds her
hands full. No guest is so dIgnifed
that she does not evince some curiosity
as TO her future. Sometimes the mild
est hammered ones finds a gallows in
the mystical dregs.
When the leaves have no shape, but
are masSed in a dark pyramid, il is a
bad fortune" Occasionally the dis
tInct shape of a coffin can be traced.
Then an enhancing shudder runs
/ through the entire group. Tbs plot
thickens. The interest deepens. The
tea leaves become important factors IL
( the happiness of a household.
TIE GEOMETRIC LINES.
! Experts III fOrecasting events find
rare things in the geometTic lines of tea
grounds, and it has become the fashion
at tea gatherings TO read aloud each
cup in turn, some ladies even declining
to leave the table until the cup Is read.
1t Is not as sOcIable a social custom
as palmlstry. y man who despises the
tattling of tea cup has no aversion to
having his hand held 10y pretty girl
while the lines are read. But as men
are not as rule gwen TO tea drinking
they will not grupe after futurIty In tea
leaves.
Fut the teacup oracle is a very harm
less, inexpensive form of destiny. Its
present popularity IS doubtless owing
TO that secret craving after the super
natural which marks the age. II gives
expression to an almost despaIring wish
to see into the coming Tomorrow
And III response TO this demand cCme
the sOothsayers, astrOlOgers, seers,
lclairvoyants. seventh daughters of sew
leuth daughters and others who predict
future events. There are secret seS-
sions where the flower and chivalry of
the best society attend, paying fee
that ranges from 81 TO SS--just from
curiosity, you know.
W hat TO learn?
The secret OF the past. present OF
future.
There Is always some lucky hit
lucky for the fortune teller.
Tie most OF people who have lived to
ANY age have friends coming from a
distance. Many have relatives who die
and leave them fortunes. Young peo'
pie are usually IN love with some one OF
tie opposite sex who Is either dark OF
fair, and a journey Is imminent IL
nearly all conditions. Crossing The
water may mean going over ferry ol
running brook, as well rs the ocean
THE MYSTIC QUALITY.
But the mystic quality lies in The
fact that the person telling all thes'
things is an announced seer-bOFn witt
a caul, ike David COpperfeld, anC
having intimate relations with the
world of futurity and the powers O
mystery.
No matter how ignorant of the civil
iZing influences of this life the inspired
fortune teller may be, how cheaply got
: ten up, or with what sordid circum
stances enviToned, professors OF all tht
-, sciences are willing to kneel at her fee
: TO learn the secrets Of the past, present
|. and future from her occult knowledge
y new mythology would be boon Il
society in It's present condition, whei
everybody is looking for sign.
The Growing of the cock WAS AZ
omen OF i'll to Peter. II heralds visito
in these days as Wei as a change III the
, weather.
: If you drop the SC ssOrs, fork or
pen. and the point sticks III the floor
: somebody is coming.
: If your nose itches you are going I
= kiss fool.
If your left hand tckles you wi
handle a sum OF money.
: If the right hand, you Will shak
hands with - friend.
If you first See a visitor in the LOOK
ing glass it Is sign of misfortune.
Two spoons signify wedding; tea
:, spoons are understood.
But these signs of necrOmancy are a
= Old as the Goings of Macbeth's witches
whose weird incautatioDs are practice
>, to this day. Indeed, a Shakespear
fortune telling book would not be ba
;, enterprise. 1t would give higher ton
= to the sOothsayer's art. 1t might /
called Easy Lessons in the HOratlo
Philosophy" and serve as textboo
in supernatural lore, with motto l.
, the second witch:
. by the pricking Of my thumbs,
, Something wicked this way comes"